Adapt 
To make fit or suitable by changing or adjusting. 

Adapter 
A device, mechanism or fitting used to mate two parts of different design, shape or size to each other. A socket adapter permits the use of a 3/8-inch drive ratchet with a ½ inch drive socket. The fitting hasa female 3/8-inch square on one side into which the ratchet drive fits, and a male ½ inch square on the other side onto which the drive socket slides. 

Add-on-interest 
The amount of interest paid on the principal of a loan for the duration of that loan. 

Addendum 
Contractual changes or additions. Supplement or addition to something. Distance from the tip of a gear tooth to the pitch line or diameter, measured radially on a circular gear. 

Addition 
Joining of a thing to another thing. A thing or part added, such as a porch onto a house. Alternately,a chemical added to cement during its manufacture either to help the manufacturing process or change its use characteristics. Additions are often incorrectly called additives. 

Additive 
Substance added to another to enhance or change its performance. Alternately, a cement like substance added to paint to change it into sand or stucco paint. Paint also comes with additives already mixed in. Chemicals added to paint to promote drying, deter insects, control viscosity, flow and gloss levels. 

Additional Principal Payment 
Payment made in excess of the required monthly payment, therefore, reducing the principal and shortening the term of the loan. 

Address 
1. Physical location of a home. 
2. Code or path used to locate stored information in a computer. 

Adherence 
To follow a set of plans or rules faithfully. Holding fast or sticking. 

Adherend 
One of the surfaces held to another by an adhesive. 

Adhesion 
A firm attachment. The molecular attraction exerted between two surfaces in contact, as occurs between the rails and the moving wheels of a train, holding the train to the track. 

Adhesion Contract 
A legally enforceable contract which is offered on a "take it or leave it" basis, leaving no opportunity for the purchaser to negotiate and must be accepted "as is," putting the purchaser at a distinct disadvantage. 

Adhesive 
Manmade product used to bond and fasten materials together. Although they may do the same or similar jobs, adhesives differ from glue in one fundamental way; adhesive is made from synthetic materials while glue is made from organic material, such as horses' hooves. Many adhesives can be used on a variety of jobs but some are very specific. 

Adhesive Bond 
Firm attachment between materials or between an adhesive and the material to which it is applied. 

Adhesive Spreader 
Trowel used to spread adhesives in ridges along a surface. The spaces between the ridges allow the adhesive to spread when surfaces are pressed together. 

Ad Hoc 
Latin for the phrase, "for this". Meaning that it is used for the purpose at hand and not considered for a wider application. 

Ad Infinitum 
Latin for "without end."

Adit 
Passageway or doorway. Alternately, a horizontal passage into a mine. 

Adjacent 
Next to. 

Adjacent Property 
Property that is close to but not touching another property. 

Adjoin 
To contact or lie close to. 

Adjoining Owners 
Property owners with property touching a common property and who have a legal right to notification when a zoning variance or change to the common property is being formally considered. 

Adjoining Property
Contiguous property sharing a common border. 

Adjournment of Closing 
Postponement of closing of title until another day or place, which can occur for various reasons such as absence of one party or incompleteness of documents. The closing is rescheduled if both parties are in agreement but, if one party tries to cancel, the contract and deal may be jeopardized. 

Adjudge 
To judicially judge or declare. To formally declare. 

Adjudicate 
To act as a judge or to settle judicially. 

Adjudication 
The formal court decision taken in an action, which has been brought reaching a final determination for all parties, involved. 

Adjudication Order 
The formalized Order of the court decision in an action. Also referred to as a decree or judgment. 

Adjustable hook spanner wrench 
Wrench with a hinged, hook-shaped section that can be fitted into the rectangular slots on the edges of a variety of nut sizes. With the hook securely held in the slot, the wrench head fits around the nut and can be used to exert torque on the nut. 

Adjustable Pliers 
Pliers that have a tongue and groove joint or slot which allows the jaws to widen and grip different sized objects. The jaw opening is adjusted by opening the pliers fully and selecting the desired groove or hinge pin position.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) 
Loans with a periodically adjustable interest rate, reflecting the changes in a specific financial index. ARMs are typically offered with 1, 3, or 5 year periods before the rate can change.

Adjustable Wrench 
Wrench with a pair of jaws, one of which is movable by means of a screw adjuster. The wrench can be made to fit different sized fasteners. 

Adjusted Cost Basis 
Tax purpose cost measuring method that allows cost to be increased by the cost of capital improvements or reduced due to depreciation. The cost of a home would be increased by the amount paid to install a permanent improvement such as air conditioning. 

Adjusted Gross Income 
Federal tax term which refers to the difference between a taxpayers gross income and adjustments to that income, which may include deductions for individual retirement accounts (IRA) and Keogh pension plans, which may be invested in real estate. Adjusted gross income is the basis for determining the limitations or eligibility of other components, such as miscellaneous expenses (2% of AGI), in calculation of taxpayer's tax liability. 

Adjusted Price 
Price plus accrued interest. 

Adjusted Sales Price 
1. Net sales price of a piece of property with the commissions and closing costs deducted from the actual sales price. 
2. For appraisal purposes: the price of a comparable piece of property with the differences between it and the property in question, accounted for. 
3. For income tax purposes: the sales price of a property reduced by the costs of improvements necessary to bring it to the condition of the comparable property. 

Adjusted Tax Basis 
The original cost of the property plus additional capital expenditures made to it, minus the accumulated depreciation. The realized tax purpose gain or loss is the difference between the sales price and the adjusted basis. Example: property purchased for $300,000 with $100,000 of capital improvement made to it. With an accumulated depreciation of $75,000, the adjusted cost basis for tax purposes would be $325,000 ($300,000 + $100,000 - $75,000). If sold for $400,000, the taxable gain would be $75,000. 

Adjuster 
The insurance company employee who settles the value of any damage done to insured property so that the insured owner may be compensated. 

Adjustment Period 
The time between rate adjustments in an adjustable rate mortgage. 

Adjustments in Appraisal 
Change in the value of one particular property based on the value of a comparable property. Adjustment in the appraisal of a comparable property will then affect the value of the original property. 

Ad Litem 
"For the suit" in Latin, which means where a guardian is appointed to protect the interests of a suit on behalf of an individual who is legally incapacitated or underage. 

Administration 
The management of all the activities that allow a system or organization to function. 

Administrative Discretion 
Authority of an individual appointed to a governmental position to use his or her discretion in the interpretation of the intent of the law when making a decision or implementing a policy. 

Administrator 
Someone to whom authority is given, by the courts, to manage and distribute the estate of a person who has died without a will. A female is called an administratrix. 

Administrator Cum Testamento Annexo (C.T.A.) 
A will, which requires an administrator to be appointed by the court because the executor/executrix chosen by the decedent is flawed. Such flaws include: choice of an incompetent person, chosen executor declines, no one is named. 

Administrator's deed 
The deed used by the court appointed administrator of an estate to transfer property. 

Administratrix 
Female to whom authority if given, by the courts, to manage and distribute the estate of a person who has died without a will. A male is called an administrator. 

Admiralty Metal 
Alloy that is at least 70 percent copper and 1 percent tin, with the remainder being zinc and often trace amounts of other elements. This metal is resistant to deterioration in the presence of salt air or saltwater and is used commonly where those conditions exist. Includes admiralty bronze and admiralty brass. 

Admix or Admixture 
Substance added to concrete, stucco or mortar for any of a variety of purposes; some purposes being to improve the mix, air entrainment or changing the drying time. Stucco is difficult to trowel unless a small amount of lime is added to the mix. The mixture to which something has been added. 

Adobe 
Heavy clay used to make adobe bricks. 

Adobe Brick
Brick made of adobe clay and straw, dried in the sun rather than by oven firing with standard bricks. Adobe bricks are still used for building in certain areas of the country. Larger than standard bricks, they require a type of clay that contains between 25% and 45% aluminum salts. 

Adobe Construction 
Construction method, which uses sun, baked blocks, which are made of soil mixed with straw, and used chiefly in the southwest of the United States and in Latin America and other arid parts of the world. 

Adorn 
To decorate or beautify. 

Adsorb 
To take up and collect molecules of one substance to the surface layer of a solid or liquid with which the molecules come in contact. 

Adsorbate 
Substance that is adsorbed, which is: to take up and collect molecules of on substance to the surface layer of a solid or liquid with which the molecules come in contact. 

Adult Community 
Housing project specifically designed to meet the needs of older, largely retired person with no small children. Adult communities with their low maintenance, high security and recreational programs can be either condominiums, cooperatives, townhouses, apartments or planned communities.

Ad Valorem 
Translation from the Latin: "according to value". 

Ad Valorem Tax
Tax, which is levied, based on the value of the property in question. Most commonly, property taxes fall into this category but it can also be used on personal property. 

Advance 
Increase in the price or market value of real estate or, most commonly, money given to someone before it is earned, as in payment for services or good received prior to receipt of same. 

Advection 
Horizontal movement of air. 

Adverse Environmental Effects 
Actions of a land developer or negative impact on the living or working conditions associated with a property. 

Adverse Land Use 
Use of real estate contrary to the interests of the property owner and implying a lack of knowledge by the owner. 

Adverse Possession
Acquisition of title to property through possession for a certain period of time, without knowledge by the owner. Adverse possession is a statute of limitations that prevents a legal owner from claiming title to the land when the owner has done nothing to evict an adverse occupant during the statutory period. 

Adverse Use 
Use and access of a certain property without the consent of the owner. 

Advocacy Role 
Representation of the best interest of a client. 

Adz or Adze Tool 
Tool that resembles an axe and is used to cut, shape or smooth wood. It has a thin arched blade, which is set at a right angle to the handles. 

Adze Eye
Short channel, which extends along the eye of a metal hammerhead. It provides additional bracing around the handle as it fits into the eye.